Fowlers move back into Rippon Road home, relative says

People packed the Good Samaritan Community Covenant Church in Valley Springs on Sunday to pray for the family of Leila Fowler, just one day after police announced that Leila's brother was arrested and charged with homicide.

"In times like these, we are shocked," Mitchell said. "The very core of life is shaken."

Mitchell spoke at young Leila's vigil, led her eulogy during the private funeral service and has been offering the family comfort ever since.

"We share their burden today, and we open our hearts," said Mitchell.

He is asking everyone to have faith in a higher power and to find forgiveness in their hearts.

Mitchell said Valley Springs won't forget, but they will get through this tragedy.

Pastors throughout the small community said that since Leila Fowler's murder, they've seen more families coming to church in search of healing.

"I think the community is praying for everyone who is immediately touched by this situation," said Mitchell. "They are praying for one another."

Mitchell said he is reaching out to those who aren't religious.

"In a time like this, it is incumbent upon us to have faith to trust, to worship together, to encourage those who do not have faith, to know our love," said the Valley Springs pastor.

On Sunday, the Fowler family was allowed back into their Rippon Road home, a relative who did not want to go on camera told KCRA 3.

The relative said he would be surprised if Isaiah Fowler was convicted, and that the family is not happy with the Sheriff Department's investigation or the outcome.

Jim Rebstock, who organized a spaghetti dinner to raise money for the Fowlers, said some people are now asking for their money back because they are afraid the funds will be used to defend the boy in court.

“There’s people out here who have already convicted him, already lynched him and already, you know, made their judgments," Rebstock said.

Fowler will not be tried as an adult because of his age. California law says juveniles must be 14 years old to be tried in adult criminal court.

WHERE THE NEWS COMES FIRST. KCRA 3 NEWS AT 6:00 STARTS A NOW. [CAPTIONING SPONSORED BYSLEEP TRAIN MATTRESS CENTERS,YOUR TICKET TO A BETTER NIGHT'S SLEEP!] SHOCKING NEWS FOR A COMMUNITY ALREADY REELING FROM THE MURDER OF ANY JEWEL GIRL CALLED LEILA FOWLER. SOME SAY THE ARREST OF HER 12- YEAR-OLD -- AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL NAMED LAYLA FOWLER. SOME SAY THE ARREST OF HER 12 EURO BROTHER IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAST HOUR. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE FOWLER FAMILY HOME, AFTER TWO WEEKS AS A CRIME SCENE, HAS BEEN TURNED BACK OVER TO THE FAMILY. THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED BACK INTO THE HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATION TO SAY THE LEAST. ONE FAMILY MEMBER TOLD ME OFF CAMERA THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE BROTHER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEILA FOWLER'S DEATH. LEILA FOWLER SHOCKED THE COMMUNITY TWO WEEKS AGO. BUT NOW THE ARREST OF HER 12- YEAR-OLD BROTHER IS INVOKING DISBELIEF AND ANGER. IT IS AWFUL. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ALREADY CONVICTED HIM, ALREADY LYNCHED IN. SEVENTH GRADER ISAIAH FOWLER WAS THE ONLY OTHER PERSON HOME WHEN SHE WAS MURDERED. HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE SAW AN INTRUDER FLEEING THE SCENE. CLASSMATES SAY HE RETURNED AFTER THE MURDER, BUT STOPPED COMING TO CLASS AFTER STUDENTS STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WOULD NOT TAKE -- SAY WHERE THE 12-YEAR- OLD IS BEING HELD NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN ARRESTED. THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD NOT SAY WHAT IF ANY DISCIPLINARY HISTORY HE HAD PRIOR TO THE ARREST. AFTER LEILA'S DEATH, RESIDENCE ORGANIZED A SPAGHETTI DINNER TO BE HELD TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE FOWLERS. THIS IS A SMALL COMMUNITY. THEY WANTED TO SHOW THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT. NOW IT HAS BEEN CALLED OFF OVER CONCERNS OF HOW THE MONEY MIGHT BE USED. THEY ARE NOW AFRAID THIS MONEY WILL GO TO THE DEFENSE OF THE YOUNG MAN. TODAY, FOWLER'S MOTHER CRYSTAL WALTERS, WHO RAISED LEILA AND ISAIAH, ISSUED A MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK WISHING EVERYBODY A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AND SAYING THE FAMILY NEEDED SOME TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS. YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE REPORT THAT YOU SPOKE TO A FAMILY MEMBER. DID THEY SEE THE ARREST AS A SHOCK, OR DO THEY SEE IT COMING AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION? I DO NOT THINK THEY SAW IT COMING. THEY WERE SORT OF SURPRISED BY THE ARREST. THEY BASICALLY SAID THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED IF ISAIAH FOWLER IS CONVICTED.